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53. Install Windows 7 Service Pack 1

Windows 7 Service Pack 1 has finally been
released. For TechNet and MSDN subscribers the
release was available for download on the 16
February 2011. Auto update will begin downloading to
the general public on the 22 February 2011, so make
sure your Auto Update settings are enabled to ensure
you get this service pack.

As Service packs go Windows Service Pack 1
doesn't introduce anything new to the operating
system; instead SP1 is simply an accumulation of
previous updates along with some newer unreleased
updates.

The time taken to update your machine will be
dependent upon the speed of your machine, available
RAM and how up to date your operating system
currently is at the time you apply the service pack.
The general consensus on the time it takes to
install the service pack is one hour or more.

On my machine, which was completely up to date at
the time of installing SP1, the upgrade took
approximately 35 minutes. On another machine, which
I had just installed Windows 7 on and which did not
have any updates at all, the upgrade time was in
excess of 75 minutes. It is, therefore, wise to
ensure that you allow plenty of time to enable the
upgrade to complete.

If you have downloaded the full ISO version of
Windows 7 Service pack one and burnt it to disk
then, on inserting the DVD into your DVD Rom you
will see an auto play option to run the setup.exe
file (fig: 53-1).

Where can I download an ISO copy of Windows
Service Pack 1

Your system will be checked first to see that it
is a valid copy of Windows 7 using the Windows
Genuine Advantage application. Once validation has
been completed the download button will appear next
to each of the available download applications. The
ISO file you need to download is
7601.17514.101119-1850_Update_Sp_Wave1-GRMSP1.1_DVD.iso

Can I Slipstream Windows 7 SP1 to my Windows 7
DVD?

If you have a copy of Windows 7 on DVD you can
easily slipstream Windows 7 Service Pack 1 to the
DVD. To do this follow the instruction at this link
45. Slipstream Windows Service Pack

For this tutorial we will assume that you are
installing from a DVD.

Insert the Windows 7 Service Pack 1 DVD into
your DVD drive. When the AutoPlay screen
appears, Click the Run Setup.exe option.

Fig: 53-1 The Auto play
screen

The User Account Control screen will now
appear. Click Yes to continue.

Fig: 53-2 Click the Yes
button on the User Account Control screen

When the Install Windows 7 Service Pack 1
screen appears, Click the Next button.
Incidentally, if you are installing the service
pack via Windows update this will be the first
screen you will see. You will not see the
screens illustrated in Fig: 53-1 and 53-2.

Fig: 53-3 Install Windows 7
Service Pack screen

Windows will now start to prepare your
computer for upgrading to Service Pack 1.

Fig: 53-4 Windows is
preparing your computer

Before proceeding make sure you save any
work you are currently engaged in, close all
open programs and then, to begin the install,
Click the Install button.

Fig: 53-5 Click the Install
button to start the update operation

The first thing Windows will now do is
create a system restore point. After the system
restore point has been created windows will
begin installing the service pack.

Fig: 53-6 Windows will create
a system restore point before installing the
service pack

A progress bar will show you how the
installation is progressing. When the progress
bar reaches the point approximately between the
x64 (or x32) and the .cab you will find that the
progress bar seems to be at a standstill for
quite a considerable length of time. This is
normal, so do not worry.

Fig: 53-7 The progress
indicator lets you know how the upgrade is
progressing

Once the service pack has been installed
your computer will automatically restart.

Fig: 53-8 After install,
Windows will auto restart.

While shutting down Windows will start
configuring the Windows Service Pack. Do Not
turn your computer off during this procedure.
When the progress indicator reaches 30% your
computer will restart.

Fig: 53-9 Windows begins
configuring the Service Pack

As Windows restarts the Starting Windows
screen appears.

Fig: 53-10 Configuring the
Service Pack

Windows now continues to configure. Again,
Do Not turn your computer off during this
configuring procedure.

Fig: 53-11 Starting Windows

The service pack installation has completed.

Fig: 53-12 Configuration has
now reach 100% and has now completed

After Windows has completed the
configuration of the Service Pack the Windows
Log on screen (assuming you have it enabled)
will appear. If you have set your computer so
that you do not have to log on then this screen
will not appear.

Fig: 53-13 The Windows Log On
Screen

Finally your desktop will appear and then
you will see the Windows 7 Service Pack is now
installed notification screen. Service Pack 1
has now been successfully installed.